Determination of developmental stages of embryo in the sea urchin, Echinometra mathaei

Sea Urchin is one of the most useful tools in developmental biology studies because this organism has the simplest kind of developmental stages. We aimed to determine developmental stages and timetable of Echinometra mathaei embryo (the species of Persian Gulf). The spawning of E. mathaei was induced by 0.5M KCl injection (1ml) into the coelomic cavity. After fertilization, embryos were placed in beakers and were incubated at 29°C and a salinity of 39 ppt until embryos reached the pluteus stage. The developmental stages of embryos and the timing of each stage including cleavage, morulae, blastula, gastrula, prism and pluteus larvae were studied under the microscope. Our results showed that after 30 hours from fertilization time, the embryos developed to pluteus larvae. E. mathaei had the shorter development time in comparison to the other Sea Urchin species. Therefore, it may be appropriate as a model organism in biological researches

Cigarette smoking and occupational noise-induced hearing loss

Background: Noise is the most common occupational hazard. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a known occupational disease. The economic costs of NIHL have been estimated to be billions of dollars. Besides, cigarette smoking is a common habit worldwide. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we surveyed the effect of smoking on NIHL in 504 workers in a large wagon manufacturing company exposed to noise >85 dBA. All required data were obtained using direct interview and questionnaires. To determine noise exposure level, we used industrial hygienist's reports of sound level measurements. A qualified audiologist assessed hearing status using standardized audiometric examination. Results: We concluded that the frequency of hearing loss in smokers was higher than non-smokers based on Model 1: odds ratio (OR) = 9.35, 95 confidence interval (CI) = 5.74-15.22 and P-value < 0.001; and based on Model 2: OR = 9.06, 95 CI = 5.93-13.84 and P-value < 0.001. Besides, these results were confirmed by logistic regression statistical method. Conclusions: It can be concluded that smoking may accelerate NIHL, but for confirming this opinion, further studies are warranted. © 2009 The Author. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved

Prevalence and antibiotic resistance pattern of extended spectrum beta lactamase producing Escherichia coli isolated from urinary tract infection

Introduction: Urinary tract infection (UTI) due to extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria including Escherichia coli has become widespread. Studies have shown a trend toward higher mortality, longer hospitalization, greater hospital expenses and reduced rates of clinical and microbiologic response in ESBL UTI. Objectives: The aim of this study is to determinate the prevalence and antibiotic resistance pattern of ESBL producing E. coli isolated from UTI. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 3126 samples. Urine specimens were cultured on Eosin Methylene Blue (EBM) and blood agar. The disk diffusion standard method (Kirby Bauer) was used to test the susceptibility of the drug on Muller- Hinton agar plates and results were reviewed based on Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) criteria. The reviewing of ESBL-producing uropathogens was carried out using Combined Disk Test (CDT) by using cefotaxime (CTX; 30 μg) and cefotaximeclavulanic acid (CTX; 30 μg /CA:10 μg) disks and CLSI protocol. Results: Out of 291 E. coli isolates, 108 (37.11) are ESBL-producer and 183 (62.89) are non-ESBL-producer. Among ESBL-producing E. coli, the highest antibiotic resistance was observed with cefotaxime (100), amoxicillin (97.22) and piperacillin (96.3) and the highest antibiotic sensitivity was observed with meropenem (93.5), nitrofurantoin (81.48) and gentamicin (55.56). Conclusion: We recommended that cephalosporins, penicillins and cotrimoxazole are not suggested in the treatment of ESBL-producing E. coli. On the other hand, carbapenems as a first line and aminoglycosides as the next step in the treatment of ESBL-producing E. coli are recommended. © 2019 The Author(s)

Evaluating muscle activity during work with trackball, trackpad, slanted, and standard mice

Objectives: Mouse is one of the most important data entry devices for computers. Undesirable and prolonged postures during work with the computer mouse increase workload, muscle aches and upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare muscle activity during the use of 4 types of mouse, including trackball, trackpad, slanted and standard by Electromyography (EMG). Methods: This experimental study included 15 subjects (7 men and 8 women). The electrical activity of EDC, ECU, ECR, FDS, PQ, and FDL muscles was recorded by EMG while performing a standard task with each mouse. The order of using each mouse was randomized. The obtained results were analyzed by SPSS using the measures of central tendency, Friedman's test, and Independent Samples t-test. Results: The results of assessing the electrical activity level of muscles suggested no statistically significant difference in the recorded EMG between FPL, FDS, and PQ muscles while working with the 4 mice. The electrical activity reduced in EDC, ECR, and FPL muscles with the use of slanted mouse, compared to that of other mice (P < 0.05). Discussion: There was no significant differences between the electrical activity of FDS, FPL, and PQ muscles during work with the studied mice. Furthermore, the activity of EDC, ECR, and FPL muscles reduced during work with a slanted mouse, compared to the other types. The habit of using a new mouse can affect the level of muscle activity; thus, the use of a slanted mouse may reduce the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders in the wrist and hand of users in the long run. © 2019 University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences

Prenatal exposure to diesel exhaust particles causes anxiety, spatial memory disorders with alters expression of hippocampal pro-inflammatory cytokines and NMDA receptor subunits in adult male mice offspring

Air pollution by Diesel exhaust (DE) consists of gaseous compounds and diesel exhaust particles (DEPs). Previous studies show associations between prenatal exposure to diesel exhaust affects the central nervous system (CNS). However, there was not reported that these effects were caused by gaseous compounds, diesel exhaust particles, or both. A limited number of studies in rodent models have shown that exposure to DEPs can result in CNS. Here, we explored the effects of prenatal exposure to DEPs on anxiety and learning and memory in NMRI mice male offspring. Three groups of pregnant mice were exposed to 350�400 μg DEPs/m 3 for 2, 4 and 6 h daily in a closed system room. We examined anxiety and learning and memory in 8-to-9-week-old male offspring using the Elevated plus maze and Morris water maze (MWM) test. Hippocampi were isolated after the behavioral tests and measured pro-inflammatory cytokines and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor expression by quantitative RT-PCR analysis. Mice exposed to DEPs in utero showed de�cits in the Elevated plus maze and Morris water maze test. In addition, DEPs exposed mice exhibited decreased hippocampal NR2A and NR3B expression. Taken together, our data suggest that maternal DEP exposure is associated with anxiety, disrupts learning and memory and reduction hippocampal NR2A and NR3B expression in male offspring. © 201

Exploring unusual metastasis in carcinoma breast: Divulging vulval metastasis

Regional lymph nodes, bones, brain, lung, and liver are the most common sites of the breast carcinoma metastases. Nodular or&nbsp;ulcerated lesions over the vulva are ignored for a long time as benign lesions by the patient and there is a lot of hesitance to undergo&nbsp;the examination. Here, we report the case of a 41-year-old female with an isolated, asymptomatic vulval metastasis of Invasive ductal&nbsp;carcinoma of the breast. The purpose of reporting this case is to make the clinicians aware of this rare site of metastasis of breast&nbsp;cancer and the importance of pelvic examination in follow-up patients

Interacting New Agegraphic Dark Energy in a Cyclic Universe

The main goal of this work is investigation of NADE in the cyclic universe scenario. Since, cyclic universe is explained by a phantom phase ($\omega<-1$), it is shown when there is no interaction between matter and dark energy, ADE and NADE do not produce a phantom phase, then can not describe cyclic universe. Therefore, we study interacting models of ADE and NADE in the modified Friedmann equation. We find out that, in the high energy regime, which it is a necessary part of cyclic universe evolution, only NADE can describe this phantom phase era for cyclic universe. Considering deceleration parameter tells us that the universe has a deceleration phase after an acceleration phase, and NADE is able to produce a cyclic universe. Also it is found valuable to study generalized second law of thermodynamics. Since the loop quantum correction is taken account in high energy regime, it may not be suitable to use standard treatment of thermodynamics, so we turn our attention to the result of \citep{29}, which the authors have studied thermodynamics in loop quantum gravity, and we show that which condition can satisfy generalized second law of thermodynamics.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure

Amniotic membrane seeded with mesenchymal adipose-derived stem cell for coverage of wound in third degree burn: An experimental study

Methods: This study was experimental and has been done in Burn Research Center of Iran University of Medical Sciences during January 2012 to April 2013. Thirty rats randomly divided to three equal groups. Inguinal fat of 10 rats (one group) were used for preparation of autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Acellular amnion was used as a scaffold for stem cell transfer. Each of the thirty rats had been exposed to a cm deep 3rd degree burn on back area. 24 hours after surgery, the wound was excised and it had been covered by three methods: conventional dressing in the first group, acellular amnion in the second group and acellular amnion seeded with adipose-derived stem cell in the third group. The rate of wound healing and pathologic characteristics was compared in all three groups. Results: Healing rate and decrease in wounds size was significantly better in acellular amnion seeded with adipose- derived stem cells compared with other two groups at 3rd and 15th days after surgery P&lt;0.01. Also in histopathology examination, fibroplasia and neovascularization of wounds were significantly better in stem cells group than the other two groups P&lt;0.001. Conclusion: Acellular amnion seeded with adipose-derived stem cell can result in faster wound healing and better histopathology characteristic. The amnion as a scaffold and the fat derived stem cells as healing accelerator are recommended for coverage of the 3rd degree burn wounds after excision and it may reduce the need for skin graft. Background: Stem cells are applied in the treatment of wide range of diseases and can be separated from different tissues of the body. These cells can treat diseases by cytokine and growth factor secretion and also cell differentiation. Burn wound is a challenging problem of reconstructive surgery and stem cells may help wound healing process. We designed this study to evaluate the beneficial effect of fat derived stem cells for coverage of 3rd degree burn wound. © 2014, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS). All rights reserved

Rotating Black Branes in the presence of nonlinear electromagnetic field

In this paper, we consider a class of gravity whose action represents itself as a sum of the usual Einstein-Hilbert action with cosmological constant and an $U(1)$ gauge field for which the action is given by a power of the Maxwell invariant. We present a class of the rotating black branes with Ricci flat horizon and show that the presented solutions may be interpreted as black brane solutions with two event horizons, extreme black hole and naked singularity provided the parameters of the solutions are chosen suitably. We investigate the properties of the solutions and find that for the special values of the nonlinear parameter, the solutions are not asymptotically anti-deSitter. At last, we obtain the conserved quantities of the rotating black branes and find that the nonlinear source effects on the electric field, the behavior of spacetime, type of singularity and other quantities.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, to appear in EPJ